Senate Democrats endorse Mukasey, torture

News Type: Event — Seeded on Wed Nov 7, 2007 12:46 PM EST

Article Source: Party for Socialism and Liberation

politics, torture, democracy, terrorists, imperialism, michael-mukasey, diane-feinstein, charles-shumer

In a capitulation to the Bush administration, two leading Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee—Diane Feinstein (CA) and Charles Schumer (NY)—have announced their intention to endorse attorney general nominee Michael Mukasey.

Mukasey, a former federal judge, shocked even his Senate supporters by refusing to rule out the use of torture during
interrogation of "terror" suspects. The collapse of Democratic opposition to Mukasey amounts to an endorsement of torture.

Published to:

St. Joseph the Worker's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Anti-War, Political Analysis
Regions: none

What's this?

Who's leading the conversation?

This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.

3.2

{"commentId":1165278,"authorDomain":"josephschroeder"}

St. Joseph the Worker

Meanwhile, candidate Guliani joked about its use. "They talk about sleep deprivation," he said. "I mean, on that theory, I'm getting tortured running for president of the United States. That's plain silly." He continued: "Now, intensive questioning works. If I didn't use intensive questioning, there would be a lot of Mafia guys running around New York right now and crime would be a lot higher in New York than it is. Intensive questioning has to be used. Torture should not be used. The line between the two is a difficult one."
...

The two ruling parties, the judiciary and the mainstream press are in lock-step in the use of police state measures as an essential element in the human catastrophe called "the war on terror."

{"commentId":1165278,"threadId":"172723","contentId":"1080008","authorDomain":"josephschroeder"}

2 votes

#1 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 12:48 PM EST

{"commentId":1166714,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}

Eric AlbertDeleted

{"commentId":1166737,"authorDomain":"josephschroeder"}

St. Joseph the Worker

No problem, Eric. Thanks for the accurate and strong commentary, for shaking the ivory tower.

{"commentId":1166737,"threadId":"172723","contentId":"1080008","authorDomain":"josephschroeder"}

1 vote

#1.2 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 9:25 PM EST

{"commentId":1166077,"authorDomain":"LarryH"}

Larry H-189743

The discussion about torture and water boarding during the Mukasey Hearings were a diversionary means to attack the President. Shame on the democrats.

Do people have a working definition of torture to compare with the dictionary of the Uniform Code of Military Justice or the Geneva Accords?

Try three columns of contrasting qualities:

A comfortable ride down to headquarters, a private or semi-private room, a clean, raised bed with padding, sheets and blankets; a variety of plentiful, nutritious meals; a variety of television programs, library privileges, proper professional medical and dental care, one or more hours of daily, voluntary choices of outdoor exercise, ....

Sleep deprivation, isolation, physical stress, waiting in the cold air, intensive interrogation, intimidation, excess water poured in your nose and mouth....

Flesh torn off, major body parts cut off, tissues burned or broken and aggravated for the pain, permanently damaged (sensory or internal) organs, serial murders of prisoners in groups, ....

{"commentId":1166077,"threadId":"172723","contentId":"1080008","authorDomain":"LarryH"}

2 votes

#2 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 5:22 PM EST

{"commentId":1166719,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}

Eric AlbertDeleted

{"commentId":1167093,"authorDomain":"LarryH"}

Larry H-189743

I proposed no solutions, only distinctions.

{"commentId":1167093,"threadId":"172723","contentId":"1080008","authorDomain":"LarryH"}

#2.2 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 11:29 PM EST

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"172723","isPrivate":false}

Victory for Torture: Mukasey Wins Vote in Senate, Despite Democrats' Doubts	The New York Times	Fri Nov 9	1
Mukasey to be sworn in as attorney general	CNN	Fri Nov 9	2
Mukasey Nomination Sent to Full Senate	Associated Press	Tue Nov 6	26
Senate Moves to Confirm Mukasey As AG	Associated Press	Thu Nov 8	10
Specter Says He Will Back AG Nominee	Associated Press	Sun Nov 4	8

ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER

Backyard

Senate Democrats endorse Mukasey, torture

Published to:

FUN STUFF:

COMPANY STUFF:

LEGAL STUFF: